Sunday, February 26, 2012

Tooth Fairy

(Google Image)

By
Diane Forrest

Today we want to recognize someone who needs no
introduction, but is rarely celebrated.
The reason is, this person has no specific "day" or
holiday....just shows up when the need arises.
To remain on standby, and show up at a moment's notice. They complete their work in the dark of
night, or wee hours of the morning, and receive no payment for efforts, not
even a cookie or glass of milk. Not only
to they show up during your time of need, but make repeated visits without
complaints.

I’m not talking about your Obstetrician, but the Tooth
Fairy. So who is the tooth fairy
exactly? The tooth fairy is a fantasy
figure that belongs in the group of other famous people. In the movie, the Santa Clause, There are
quite a few prestigious members of that club.
There is Mother Nature and Father Time, Santa, the Easter Bunny, The
tooth fairy, cupid, the sandman, and Jack Frost, a fantasy want to be.

(Google Image)

The earliest mention of the tooth fairy started in
Europe. It was the custom to bury the child's
baby teeth, and then after the 6th tooth fell out, a gift of money was placed
under the pillow. Some even sprinkled
glitter on the floor to depict a trail of fairy dust. No one knows exactly what the tooth fairy
looks like. There is no standard picture
as there is of Santa, or the Bunny.
Reports from Wikipedia states that a 1984 study conducted by Rosemary
Wells revealed that most, 74 percent of those surveyed, believed the tooth
fairy to be female, while 12 percent believed the tooth fairy to be neither
male nor female and 8 percent believed the tooth fairy could be either male or
female. One review of published children's books and popular artwork found the
tooth fairy to also be depicted as a child with wings, a pixie, a dragon, a
blue mother-figure, a flying ballerina, two little old men, a dental hygienist,
a potbellied flying man smoking a cigar, a bat, a bear and others. Unlike the
well-established imagining of Santa Claus, differences in renderings of the
tooth fairy are not as upsetting to children.

After interviewing several people, the findings of the
amount the tooth fairy left usually average out depending on each
generation. My father's generation
usually got nothin, or maybe a nickel.
My generation got a quarter, while my son's generation got a
dollar. When asking my cousin what the
tooth fairy brought her kids I was surprised.
The fairy brought $10.00 for the first tooth, and $3.00 to $5.00 for the
remaining teeth. I guess inflation hits
everyone. The reported average for teeth
these days is around $2.70 per tooth.

(Google Image)

Today is National Tooth Fairy Day. If you have already lost all your baby teeth,
why not rent the movie The Tooth Fairy, and relive some of your fond childhood
memories.